An examination of selected works for percussion: Song for a Reading Partner, Sonata Pathétique for Marimba and Track, Jump Up Superstar, My Funny Valentine, Mood Swings for Drum Set and Track

Abstract

This report is designed and intended for musicians and scholars planning to perform or seeking a deeper understanding of, the following compositions: Sonata Pathétique for Marimba and Track by Ludwig Von Beethoven arranged by Alexander Shallenberger, Song for a Reading Partner by Alexander Shallenberger, My Funny Valentine by Lorenze Hart and Richard Rogers, Mood Swings by Alexander Shallenberger, and Jump Up Superstar by Naoto Kubo and Nobuyoshi Suzuki. Jan La Rue’s Guidelines for Style Analysis served as the primary guide for analysis in this document. For each composition, I have added relevant performance considerations to help percussionists perform these compositions. Therefore, all pieces within this document will be analyzed using the following categories: Sound, Harmony, Melody, Rhythm, Growth, and Performance Considerations.